Male infertility

It's never easy to admit that you have an infertility problem but for men this can be especially hard, more so perhaps given that the cause was previously thought to be only female.

When a couple is undergoing fertility testing it is important that the man has his semen analysed to check that the sperm is working as it should. A specimen can usually be collected at home and it is important that the man abstains for ejaculation for 2-3 days prior to this. However, it is important that the sample reaches the laboratory within one hour so a sample can also be taken at a clinic to make this a little easier. Some clinics also also ask for 2 samples to ensure a accurate result.

Antibodies, which normally fight infection in the body, can be produced by a man which bind onto his sperm. This can effect either the motility of the sperm of the may interfere with the fertilisation of the egg in the female.

Nearly 90% of cases where the male has a problem are not able to be assisted by treatment to improve sperm count. In these cases it may be necessary to use assisted conception methods if a pregnancy is to occur naturally. The main issues with male infertility are due to: abnormal sperm count, physical abnormalities, genetic or hormone causes or smoking. Thought there are other factors that may be significant also.

Men who smoke have a 13 - 17% lower sperm count than men who don't smoke. A high alcohol intake can also mean that the sperm have less motility. Wearing tight clothes and prolonged periods of sitting down have also been shown to effect sperm count.